“Dad, that sounds like a brilliant idea… Good thinking Sandy!” – Mets Co-Owner Jeff Wilpon to his dad and co-owner Fred Wilpon and GM Sandy Alderson after Sandy floated the Pledge your Support idea..

EL BARIO, BRONX – I know we have all had our fill of the Donald Sterling matter. However, your humble Sports Deacon Blaber wants to discuss the influence of the NBA players union on the decision. That will be the first thing from my Bully Pulpit. As for the rest of today’s topics, I give my take on the insane Mets Pledge and talk about the drama that is the NHL playoffs. The first two topics were discussed in this week’s Meet The Matts Radio Podcastbut I didn’t get a chance to call in so, I am sharing my thoughts now!

NBA Player Power: A little known aspect of the whole lifetime suspension given out to Donald Sterling was the role the NBA players association played in it. David Stern downplayed Sterling’s bigotry for a while and swept all his lawsuits under the carpet. But Dumb Don’s views were an known in the management corridors of the NBA that Stern managed carefully, including nixing the Chris Paul trade to the Lakers - and sending Paul to the Clippers. However, when this came out (and to be fair, that fact that his trophy girlfriend ratted him out makes her look even more like a gold-digger, so they deserve each other), the players union was incensed. The aforementioned Chris Paul is the president of the NBA Players Association, so he had a lot more clout than most of his teammates. The Clippers went out and played game 5 and it seemed like the NBA was going to just investigate and hope it went away. But before the decision came down, Paul made some calls. It was confirmed by CNN and other reputable news sources that beyond the Clippers silent protest of throwing their warm-ups on the ground and practicing with their jerseys inside out, the other playoff teams – including the Clippers opponents the Golden State Warriors – would have their entire 15-man roster walk-off the court after tip-off. With the Commish made aware of those intentions, he had to throw the book at Sterling or face global condemnation.

Fred Wilpon pledges to keep being a horrible owner!

Mets Pledge: This insane idea that the Mets are circulating a petition whereby Mets fans pledge their loyalty to the club is ridiculous. Yes, some Met legends have signed it – but club legends do that to stay current or hope to get hired in some capacity. There is an unwritten pledge amongst most sports fans and their clubs and it usually goes that we will support you through thick and thin, if you can promise to at least attempt to put out a good team. If you sign a big name Free Agent and he ends up a bust, we know it is not your fault. But when you sign Bartolo Colon, sell Ike Davis for a bag of balls, leave us with the powerhouse duo of Lucas Duda at first and Ruben Tejada at short, why should we pledge our loyalty to this piss poor product. You obviously don’t care about us and only want my money… I believe a relationship where one party takes the other’s money and doesn’t care about the other party’s feelings is unhealthy. This is verified by 11 out of 10 therapists.

NHL Playoffs: Said it before and I will say it again, no American major sport playoffs touch the NHL Playoffs. Football is close but has only 1 game between the teams. The NHL is longer but it feels like the teams don’t take night off like they do in Baseball and Basketball. You have the beards, you have the rise of grinders to stardom and no other sport does one guy, the Goalie, have the ability to carry a sad sack side like in Hockey. I am staying east coast this year in my back-up to the Rangers. If the Broadway Blues can’t win it, then give me Les Habitants – aka the Montreal Canadians. It would be great if they took Lord Stanley’s cup all the way back to Montreal. As great a hockey town as there ever was.

That is it for now, feel free to comment below and come back tomorrow for the one and only Cheesy Bruin – as great a hockey as there ever will be.

Junoir Blaber is from Ghana but was transplanted to the Bronx as a young lion chaser. Blaber is the Rain Man of Meet The Matts and is a featured contributor on MTM global partner, Rugby Wrap Up. The name "Junoir" is not a cool African name. Instead, Blaber mis-typed "Junoir" on his Facebook page. But proving that two wrongs indeed do make a right, he embraced his new persona - [June-noire]... Manute Bol is his uncle and his teams are the Mets, Jets, Knicks & NY Rangers... And Manchester United. He knows soccer. [Vomit]. P.s... He has webbed toes and came be followed on Twitter here: @JunoirBlaber

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Puck Face

The Rangers came up big last night! And if they don’t win the Cup I want anybody but Boston to win it.

http://meetthematts.com/ Meet The Matts

Agreed! Will it be another Original 6 Final?

jgclancy

My friend, Dave, is rooting for the Wild to win it all. Rangers lose 2-0 lead then win in OT – I’ll take it. A’s lost but are still in first- Go A’s
I wonder when Short Matt publishes his Pledge to MtM petition.
Looking at Mets batting averages….woof!
For the ponies- California chrome boxed exactas with any 6-1 through 10-1 pick and a win bet on Candy Boy in honor of John Candy

jgclancy

Speaking of which–almost time for Belmont boys & girls

http://meetthematts.com/ Meet The Matts

You mean your “imaginary friend Dave,” don’t you, jgclancy? He’s the one that started you on the A’s, right? Oh. Snap.

jgclancy

??? I started on the A’s because of George Steinbrenner and his evil ways.Everyone here knows that factoid. My friend, Dave, lives in Mankato, Minnesota where I once lived and he is a big MN Wild fan. I actually have two friends named Dave in MN but I call one David to avoid confusion.
So save your Oh Snap( and two thumbs up) for when “Men On” returns to the airwaves. fella hehe

http://meetthematts.com/ Meet The Matts

There is no Mankato in Minny!

jgclancy

No, that’d be Mickey..

AngryWard

Clancy, I get the “my friend Dave” joke even if management doesn’t.

SAF

Me too.

jgclancy

Thank you for your UNDERSTANDING……

jgclancy

Thank you for your UNDERSTANDING…

DJ Eberle

Big night for my Hawks! One game away from knocking the Pacers out of the playoffs! Let’s Go Hawks!!!

Junoir Blaber

Indiana are the only team that can stop Miami!!

Nick Erbocker

The Pacers were taken over by Zombies 3 weeks ago!

AngryWard

The Habs? Really? Junoir, you need to check back into the emergency room.

jgclancy

I didn’t wanna say anything about that traitorous line but figured I’d shut up long enough for them to oust Boston.

AngryWard

My friend Dave had California Chrome at 30-1. He bet him back in February. Nice.